Beasts & Witches – Dossier No. 02
The Creature Roaming the City
In Metz, some creatures hide right in the heart of the city: sometimes, all you have to do is look up to spot them.
With Beasts & Witches, the bestiary grows all the way to Amnéville and Walygator. The only question is which creature you will dare to approach.
24 and 28 October 2026 | Metz
Your bestiary begins in Metz
Look up, they are already there
No special effects are needed to find monsters in Metz. Some have been watching passers-by for centuries, perched on façades and monuments.
On 24 October, the family tour “Monsters and Gargoyles” invites children and adults to explore the city in search of the unusual. Fantastical sculptures, unsettling figures and legends all offer new ways to look at Metz. The one-hour tour is designed for children aged 6 to 12 accompanied by an adult.
A few days later, on 28 October, “Witches and Sinister Animals” takes families into a very different world. Magical plants, animals associated with bad omens and popular beliefs take centre stage.
Two complementary events: in the first, creatures hide in the stone; in the second, they slip into stories that have been told for generations.
Keep your eyes open
Which creature will be the hardest to spot along the way?
Don’t just look straight ahead. In Metz, some prefer to hide high above you.
17 October to 1 November 2026 | Amnéville Zoo
In Amnéville, the creatures come to life
Animals of Fear
After the sculpted monsters of Metz and the creatures hidden beneath the surface at the Aquarium, the setting changes: at Amnéville Zoo, the encounters are very real this time.
From 17 October to 1 November, the park brings back its special Halloween programme with Animals of Fear. Through a thrilling treasure hunt, visitors discover these species in a different way – animals that fascinate, intrigue and sometimes feed our fears.
On 31 October, the atmosphere continues into the night with a special Halloween evening from 7 pm to 10 pm, featuring the traditional Horror Parade. Another way to explore the Zoo as darkness falls.
A different way of seeing them
Which animals impress you the most?
Claws, fangs, scales or piercing eyes… at Amnéville Zoo, the Beasts & Witches bestiary is very much real.
From 17 October 2026 | Amnéville Zoo
At nightfall, other creatures appear
Luminescences – The World Is a Celebration
When night falls over Amnéville Zoo, the setting takes on a completely different appearance. For its 5th edition, Luminescences features more than 12,000 light installations along a 1.5 km trail.
Among the 12 themed worlds of this edition, Halloween makes an appearance with a display inspired by Moselle traditions. The Graoully and the famous grimacing beets emerge in the light.
When the night lights up
Even the Graoully makes an appearance in Amnéville.
Lanterns, creatures and Moselle traditions: at nightfall, the bestiary takes on a whole new dimension.
17 October to 1 November 2026 | Amnéville Aquarium
Beneath the surface, Halloween takes on a different form
Halloween at Amnéville Aquarium
Here, the creatures are not roaming through the woods: they are swimming silently behind the glass.
Sharks, piranhas, jellyfish and other inhabitants of the underwater world make up a very real bestiary. For Halloween, the Aquarium is decorated for the season and offers sweets and a photo contest for the scariest costume.
Beneath the surface
Shark, piranha or jellyfish: which encounter will impress you the most?
Behind the glass, the Beasts & Witches bestiary takes on a whole new form.
17 October 2026 | Jardins Fruitiers de Laquenexy
In Laquenexy, monsters hide beneath the leaves
The Monster Hidden Beneath the Leaf
After the gargoyles of Metz, the setting changes: some creatures prefer to hide in nature.
At the Jardins Fruitiers de Laquenexy, the surprising shapes and colours of autumn leaves become the starting point for a creative workshop. Children are invited to use their imagination to reveal the friendly monsters that may be hiding there.
Two sessions are offered on 17 October: a parent-and-child workshop for ages 3 to 6 in the morning, and a workshop for ages 5 to 10 in the afternoon. A fun way to add new creatures to this dossier, somewhere between nature and imagination.
Look beneath the leaves
What if monsters were much smaller than you imagined?
No claws or fangs this time. In Laquenexy, a simple leaf can hide a curious little creature.
17 October to 1 November 2026 | Walygator Grand Est | Maizières-lès-Metz
Until now, you were watching them… now step into their world
At Walloween, monsters take over the park
At Walygator, the creatures do not stay behind glass. For Walloween, the park is transformed with eerie settings, roaming monsters, shows and attractions given a special Halloween twist.
The bravest visitors can step inside Terror House, Terreur à l'Asile or L'Usine, while the park's attractions, including The Monster, add an extra dose of thrills.
Two late-night openings extend the experience: 24 October until 8:30 pm and 31 October until 10 pm, when darkness gives the park a completely different atmosphere.
How far will you go?
Terror House, Terreur à l'Asile or L'Usine?
Haunted house, sinister asylum or cursed foundry: at Walloween, everyone decides how far they want to take the thrills.
Still haven’t found your favourite creature? Discover the full Beasts & Witches programme
The events in Metz, Amnéville and Walygator are just part of the 2026 edition.
Tours, shows, games, night-time experiences, family activities or events for the bravest visitors: explore the full programme and find your next Halloween outing in Moselle.
Which dossier will you discover next?
You have explored the ghosts of the fortresses. A different atmosphere awaits you in the next four dossiers.
Halloween in Metz and Amnéville with Beasts & Witches
At Halloween, Metz and Amnéville fill with creatures both real and imaginary. Gargoyles and sculpted monsters reveal themselves in the streets of Metz, while Amnéville Zoo and Aquarium invite visitors to discover animals that are as fascinating as they are impressive.
During the Beasts & Witches Festival in Moselle, continue the experience at Walygator and its Walloween universe. Family visits, animals, monsters and attractions make for an ideal programme during the autumn half-term holidays in Metz and Amnéville, with thrills to suit every taste.